My path to India: Preparation is only the key to more preparation

Some of you may have read that I discovered a gig taking place on the day we were to arrive in India. We were very excited about this, and were moments away from changing our plans so we could attend. That is of course until I realised that India’s timezone is ahead of us, so we arrive the day after the gig. Better that I realised this before the mad rush to change our plans.

Aside from this minor hitch to proceedings things have gone considerably well so far with the planning. And by this I mean we have not secured any further plans. Our research phase has been long and convuluted: conflicting information and a barrage of brick walls. We discover, for instance, that if you want to book train tickets in advance, you must do so 90 days in advance. That ship has sailed then, for want of a more appropriate cliche. And true to form we have spent two drunken hours deciding which places to visit only to change that the following day upon a discovery made during more research.

In summary then, preparation is the key, the key to more preparation and eventually deciding that everything will be fine and we should probably give up now before our heads explode from information overload.

With a view to maybe helping people in the future who are planning their first excursion to India, I thought I would summarise my learnings so far (and my feelings at this point in time, 3 days before departure).

1. Doing research is fun, but there is such a thing as too much. Decide what you want from your trip, where you can find it and stick to that. You can’t see and read about everything, and much of what you do will be determined only through doing it, so try and relax about it.

2. Don’t book your flights until you have done step 1.

3. Talk to everyone and anyone you can about your trip, and resist the urge to say “I’ve already been told that” because you might prevent them giving you the one piece of information you haven’t heard and which might actually help you avoid making a mistake.

4. The internet is a beautiful bounty of information. But have patience to trawl it’s myriad avenues of bullshit and nonsense; don’t give up if you are really searching for something.

5. Prepare to make lists of all the things you need to do. You’ll even probably make a list of the different lists you will need. (Or maybe that’s just me)

6. Get your visa well in advance, it saves you having unnecessary panic and distress.

7. Share the load with your travelling partner – neither one of you should feel they have done more than their fair share.

8. And finally, you’re going to India. Stop fucking moaning about all the planning you are having to do.

I hope to be able to update this blog when I am there; failing that, I will be serialising my journal when I get back to the UK.